Spain Digital Nomad Visa Guide

The Digital Nomad visa (autorización de residencia para teletrabajo de carácter internacional) is for non-EU nationals who work remotely using digital technology for companies or clients located outside Spain.

• Remote employees with a foreign employer that allows work from Spain
• Freelancers serving clients abroad (no more than 20% of income from Spanish clients)
• Applicants who can prove stable qualifying income and relevant qualifications or experience

Requirements are set by the UGE (Unidad de Grandes Empresas) and tied to Spain's minimum wage (SMI), which updates annually.

• Remote work: employment or freelance contracts showing work performed remotely for foreign entities
• Company age: if employed, the foreign company must have existed for at least one year
• Spanish income cap: freelance income from Spanish clients must not exceed 20% of total earnings
• 2026 income (main applicant): €2,849 gross per month (200% of annualised SMI per Real Decreto 126/2026)
• First dependant: +€1,068/month; each additional dependant: +€356/month
• Qualifications: university degree OR at least three years of documented professional experience in your field
• Health insurance: private policy authorised in Spain, full coverage without co-pays or waiting periods for at least one year
• Clean record: no criminal offences in countries of residence during the last five years

Prepare a complete dossier before your consulate appointment or in-country UGE submission.

• Valid passport (12+ months validity, issued within 10 years, two blank pages) plus certified copies
• Completed visa/residence application form and passport photos (35×45 mm, white background)
• Criminal record certificates from every country where you lived 6+ months in the last five years (apostilled and translated)
• Medical certificate confirming absence of diseases posing public health risks (RSI 2005 standards)
• Employment contract with remote-work clause and employer letter, OR freelance B2B contracts and invoices
• Income proof: bank statements (3–6 months), payslips, or invoices matching declared income
• Qualification proof: apostilled diploma or CV with three years of contracts/references
• Private health insurance policy meeting visa requirements
• Proof of visa fee payment (consulate fee typically around €73–80)

You can apply from your home country through a Spanish consulate or, in many cases, from within Spain while legally present (e.g. on a tourist stay).

• Consulate path: book cita previa, submit dossier, receive a 12-month visa sticker — processing often 6–8 months
• In-country path: enter Spain legally, obtain empadronamiento and NIE, apply via UGE portal with digital certificate — approval can grant up to three years initially
• Freelancers must register as autónomo (RETA) and file Form 036/037 with AEAT after approval
• On approval: collect visa/resolution; on refusal you typically have one month to appeal

Your visa or residence approval is only the start — complete these steps in your first weeks in Spain.

• Empadronamiento: register your address at the local ayuntamiento within the first weeks.
• TIE card: book a cita previa for fingerprinting within 30 days of arrival or approval; submit EX-17 and pay form 790-012.
• Tax registration: file Form 030 with AEAT to register your fiscal address in Spain.
• Social Security: register as autónomo in RETA if freelancing; contributions apply from registration
• Beckham Law: if eligible, file Form 149 within six months of Social Security registration for the 24% flat tax regime
• Healthcare: after SNS registration, apply for your tarjeta sanitaria at your centro de salud
• Practical setup: Spanish bank account, local SIM, and Cl@ve or digital certificate for government portals